As a young island country, Taiwan actually has a complex history of 400 years that includes Dutch colonization, Qing Dynasty rule, Japanese colonization, and a brutal martial law era. Taiwan went through a lot before it became today’s thriving democracy. All this is covered in the National Museum of Taiwan History, located not in the capital Taipei, but in Tainan, Taiwan’s oldest city.
Opened in 2011, the museum is fronted by a massive solar wall, made up of over 1,300 solar panels on which the museum’s name is spelled. In front are two large pools bisected by a path that submerges into the ground, which lets you experience the cool sensation of walking below the water.
The museum’s main exhibitions are on the second floor, covering Taiwan’s various historical eras. There is a large replica wooden ship, as well as replica colonial storefronts, temple and even an old-time classroom. There are exhibits on the democracy struggle during the 20th-century martial era, as well as on Taiwan’s aboriginal people (who have lived in Taiwan for thousands of years). The museum does really well to recreate the past in a vivid and fascinating manner. The only quibble is that there could be a bit more artifacts.
The third floor features special temporary exhibits that change periodically while the ground floor has exhibits for kids. Behind the museum is a pleasant small lake with walking paths.
How to get there: Take a local train from Tainan Train Station to Yongkang station, then take a bus or taxi to the museum. The bus comes only once an hour or so, so check the electronic display to see when the next bus will come.
Note: The museum is closed on Mondays.
View of the main floor (second floor)
Trading boat with eyes at the prow to ward off bad luck
Folk parade
Take a seat with Japanese colonial officials
One of Taiwan’s aboriginal tribes
You can walk behind the solar panel wall
